Fall Into Some Great Upcoming Events

          

        There are so many educational opportunities coming up in Cooperative Extension, I could not just pick one to write about. I wanted to share a lot of them with you! Below, please find information about upcoming events I know you’ll enjoy (and receive credit hours!).

            Coastal Carolina Agricultural Fair. Counties include Craven, Jones, Pamlico, and Carteret. October 17 – October 27, 2013 at the Craven County Jaycees Fairgrounds located in between New Bern and Havelock on Hwy. 70. Come out and visit the livestock barn! We will have educational exhibits available for you and your family.

Farm-City Day, November 2, 2013 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the New Bern Farmer’s Market, Tryon Palace, and the North Carolina History Center. This event is a way to bridge the gap between the farm and the city. We will have educational booths as well as vendors from all over nearby areas. You will find farm equipment, livestock, local FFAs, and vendors from downtown New Bern.

            Southeast Bull Expo & Sale, November 16, 2013 at the Sampson County Livestock Barn behind the Extension Office in Clinton. This will be a great sale for producers looking for high quality bulls and a select group of heifers. Come out and join us!

            Craven / Jones Livestock Association Meeting, November 18, 2013 at 6:30 PM at Core Creek FWB Church in Cove City. Pot Luck dinner. Even if you have not been able to join us for a meeting so far, we would love to have you and your family join us now! It is a great way to network with other livestock producers and those interested in bettering the livestock industry in our area.

            Looking for CEC hours? Come out to the Southeast Regional Pork Conference where you can get all (6) hours in one place. This year’s conference will be held at the Onslow County Cooperative Extension Office on November 21, 2013 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Contact the Onslow County Cooperative Extension Office to register at (910) 455.5873.

            Eastern Carolina Cattlemen’s Conference, December 3, 2013 at the Sampson County Agri-Expo Center in Clinton. This is a great opportunity for cattle producers and those producers interested in raising cattle to come out and network with other producers as well as hear world-renowned speakers from the cattle industry and visit with vendors at the trade show.

            Are you a Certified Crop Advisor? Come to our CCA Training to receive your hours. This year’s training will be held December 10 – 12, 2013 at the Onslow County Cooperative Extension Office. Contact the Onslow County Cooperative Extension Office to register at (910) 455.5873.

More questions? Contact Margaret A. Bell, Livestock Agent in Craven and Jones Counties at Craven County Cooperative Extension at (252) 633.1477. Hope to see you at some of our upcoming educational events!

Broodmare Feeding Management

Adapted and shortened from “MARE AND FOAL NUTRITION. Feeding Management of the Broodmare” by Dr. Bob Mowrey, North Carolina State University.

One of the most important parts of managing a mare so she can produce a foal is nutrition. Mares can be broken down into three management groups: 1- open mares pre-breeding 2- pregnant / gestating mares and 3-lactating mares. In this article, we will discuss several different nutritional points on how to properly feed your broodmare.

Open and Maiden Mares

An open mare is a mare that has foaled in years past but did not conceive during the current season. A maiden mare is a mare that has never been bred. Horse owners should not feed open and maiden mares together; their nutrient requirements are totally different. For example, the maiden mare’s requirements are much higher (than an open mare) because she is still growing. An incorrect feeding program for either open or maiden mares can cause decreased growth, decreased pregnancy rates, and decreased fertility in maiden mares. Make sure you have a way to separate the two groups of mares in your pastures.

Open Mares – Horse owners can feed maiden mares the same diet they would feed a mature horse at a maintenance level. Good quality pastures need to be present and will likely meet the nutrient requirements for a mature open mare’s nutrient requirements.

Maiden Mares – They require a more nutrient-dense diet based on their body weight. Their diets must be supplemented with concentrates to meet protein, vitamin, mineral and energy requirements. Since maiden mares are still growing, calcium and phosphorus (minerals) are very important. Typically, good-quality pastures and high-quality hays are not enough to satisfy their nutrient requirements.

Body Condition

Mares that are a moderate to fleshy body condition score have been found to have reproductive efficiency similar to those in thrifty condition and actually rebreed more efficiently. Mares that have a higher body condition score do not need as much feed during lactation. This reduces feed costs as well as colic and founder. It is less of a health problem for maiden and open mares to have excessive fat deposition than it is for them to have a nutrient deficiency. Thin mares will supply their own nutrient requirements before their body will meet the needs of their foal. If there is a severe nutrient deficiency, the mare could possibly abort and have breeding problems in the future. 

Preparing Open mares for Breeding

Mares that have an adequate body condition are able to have better conception rates. Body condition of a mare can be altered by changing their energy intake. For an excessively obese mare you can exercise the mare, reduce grain intake, increase levels of protein, vitamins and minerals in grain, or try a dry lot.

Feeding the Pregnant Mare

These mares are typically grouped into two categories: 1- mares in their first two trimesters and 2- mares in their last trimester of pregnancy. The foal does not grow rapidly during the first eight months. However, during the last trimester, the foal is rapidly growing and needs additional nutrients from the mare. Be careful with the amount of copper found in the mare’s diet in late pregnancy. Research has shown mares in late pregnancy whose diet contains copper may have an affect on foal bone development.

Fescue Toxicosis

During the mare’s last semester, they should be removed from areas that contain fungus-infected fescue hay and pasture. When mares are in their last trimester and are allowed to graze this type of pasture, they will likely have severe complications during foaling. If you are concerned your fescue pasture contains endophyte-infected fescue, you can sample your forage and send it to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to be sampled. There is a small fee for this.

Nutritionally Managing a Lactating Mare

Their nutrient requirements are already elevated and will increase during lactation. The mare must consume additional nutrients to make up for this increase. Also, during the first 30 days of lactation, the foal’s nutrient requirements drastically increase. It is important to reduce as much stress on the mare as possible during this time, as they are experiencing nutritional stress as well as psychological stress. Make sure to take equally as good of care with your foal’s nutrient requirements and health once it’s born!

For more information on feeding management of broodmares, contact Margaret A. Bell at the Craven or Jones Counties Cooperative Extension Office at (252) 633.1477.

Come join us at the Craven / Jones Livestock Association!

By: Margaret A. Bell – Extension Agent, Livestock – Craven & Jones Counties

Did you know there is now a Livestock Association in Craven and Jones counties? There have been Associations in the past, particularly a Cattlemen’s Association, but none were active when I became the Livestock Agent in 2010. With lots of interested producers in the counties who wanted to see an Association again, we set out to do just that. Hence, the Craven-Jones Livestock Association was formed.

Who can join? Anyone who has an interest in livestock. You do not have to own livestock to join the Association and be a participating member.

What have I missed? Not much! We had an interest meeting earlier in the year and have only had a couple of meetings since then. It is not too late (and never will be) to join the Association or just come learn more about what we do and who we are.

What DO you do? As an Association, we are deciding our specific direction now. However, our general direction has several purposes: to give members a networking opportunity with a group of livestock producers who can be of assistance to one another; to give purchasing power to the group to buy or sell in bulk (for example, if you and your two neighbors want to go in on buying a truckload of hay or if you and your fellow Livestock Association member want to sell your cattle together to make it more worthwhile); to educate Association members on any and all things livestock (vaccination protocol, reproduction, forages, hay, etc.), and more.

When does the Association meet and what do you do at meetings? Our next meeting will be held Thursday, July 25, 2013 at Core Creek FWB Church at 7:00 PM. The physical address is 210 Trenton Road, Cove City, NC 28523. We typically have a supper first and follow with a business meeting. Most meetings will consist of a speaker presenting a relevant livestock topic to the group.

Can I still be a part of the Association if I don’t have a lot of livestock experience? Yes! We want you to come even if you don’t own any livestock. Our main goal is to build a strong Association across Craven and Jones counties (and we accept outside county membership as well) so we can better the livestock industry here. Livestock is such an important entity of agriculture and as you all know – we can’t live without it!

How much does it cost? We are still working on that. Most Associations have annual membership dues and at our next meeting, I feel sure we will set that cost.

Can my children come? Absolutely. Our agricultural future is in their hands. We want nothing more than for them to be included, be able to learn and ask questions, and know what is going on and why agriculture is so important.

More questions? Contact Margaret A. Bell, Livestock Agent in Craven and Jones counties at Craven County Cooperative Extension at (252) 633.1477. She will get you in contact with the current Livestock Association Board: Adam G. Ross - President, Charlie McCoy - Vice-President, Candice Morgan - Secretary / Treasurer. Look forward to seeing you on July 25^th!

            North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.  In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.  North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

Upcoming Event!

Attention LIVESTOCK INTERESTED YOUTH: Showmanship Clinic / Mock Skill-A-Thon Competition held on Friday, June 28, 2013 from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM in Trenton. $5 includes lunch and homemade ice cream! We will also need volunteers and halter-broke animals! For more information email Margaret_Bell@nsu.edu.

Ag Fact of the Day

"Farmers participate in conservation programs that prevent soil erosion, preserve and restore wetlands, clean the air and water, and enhance wildlife habitat. Careful stewardship has spurred a 50 percent decline in erosion of cropland by wind and water since 1982." - Farm Bureau's Food and Farm Facts Pocket Guide, American Farm Bureau Federation.

Tri-Livestock Competition

So proud of my Jones County Skill-A-Thon team! We attended the Tri-Livestock Competition this past Saturday and came back with something to show for it! See placings below. WAY TO GO JONES COUNTY!!!

Participants: Cheyenne Pike, Eddie Almanza, Anthony Almanza, Logan Murphy, Ashley Murphy, Paul Pike

TOP JR. TEAM - Skill-A-Thon
TOP JR. TEAM - Stockmen's Bowl
TOP JR. TEAM - OVERALL

10th place Livestock Judging JR. Individual - Eddie Almanza
6th place Livestock Judging JR. Individual - Ashley Murphy
2nd place Livestock Judging JR. Individual - Paul Pike

6th place Skill-A-Thon JR. Individual - Logan Murphy
5th place Skill-A-Thon JR. Individual - Paul Pike
1st place Skill-A-Thon JR. Individual - Ashley Murphy

Ag Fact of the Month

Myth: "Use of pesticides is causing environmental and human illness problems. Meat contains more pesticides than do plant-source foods."

Fact: "Government data indicate that, for both plant and animal foods, there is no evidence of chemicals at anything more than a fraction of tolerance levels proven to be safe. USDA's official report for 1989 on residue monitoring of meat showed no violative pesticide resides in beef."

Resource: "Beef Promotion and Research Board by the National Cattlemen's Association."